GORDO | John Rufus Shepherd, age 87, of Gordo, Ala., passed away on July 18, 2014 at Northport Medical Center. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Hannah United Methodist Church with Bro. Joe Acker, Bro. Charles Herron, and Bro. Jake Barrett officiating and Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 21, 2014 at the funeral home. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to service at the church.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Rainford Shepherd, Earl Shepherd, and Lifford Shepherd; and his sisters, Lorene Shepherd Hitt, Voncille Shepherd Watkins, Jo Ann Shepherd Latham, and Elva Mae Shepherd.
He is survived by his wife, Lendel Reynolds Shepherd; his daughter, Patricia Shepherd Hollingsworth (Dwight); his sons, Jerry Shepherd (Susanne), Bill Shepherd (Sharron), Don Shepherd (Jenna), and Mike Shepherd (Susan); brother, Billy Shepherd (Susan); 10 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren; and special friends, Jerome and Gwen Sullivan and Frank and June Elmore.
John was born October 22, 1926 in Pickens County, Alabama to the late Oscar Earl Shepherd and Nannie Langdon Shepherd. He was a member of Hannah United Methodist Church and a retired iron worker and member of Local #92. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a life long resident of Pickens County.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Patrick Hollingsworth, Trenton Shepherd, Melanie Hollingsworth Brown, Jarrett Shepherd, Madison Shepherd, Ashley Shepherd, Macy Shepherd, Alex Shepherd, Keena Calloway, and Traci Ralston.
Honorary Pallbearers are friends of the Lineville community and members of union Chapel United Methodist Church and Hannah united Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hannah United Methodist Church Building Fund, 309 Skyland Blvd. Gordo, AL